Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-21
LITTLE JOHNNY wICKERsHAm

A Fffteen-year-oId Rebel that Didn't
 Know What it was to be Afraid.
 In October, 1862, after the death of Lyon and the retreat of the Federal army from
 Wilson's Creek to Rolla, Mo, leaving all the southwest portion of the State free from Federal garrisons, in almost every hamlet and town thus freed men volunteered for the ssLost Cause," and were organized into com panies and started south to join Prices army
 which vas then at Springfield.
 R. J. N ickersham organized an infantry company at Lebanon. The second day on the march south little 14year- old Johnnie
 Wickersham, having 1un away from home, came into our camp. When we reached
 Springfield our force numbered 2S0 infantry.
 One third of us were without arms, and those who were the proud possessors of a squirrel rife or shotgun were looked upon as heroes.
 We camped mile out of town on the main road leading west. On either side of the road was high stake an1 rider fence, form ing lane. Our camp ground were az old sloped to 8 ravine one fourth mile toward town. On our west was thick growth of young oak trees, so thick that @ horseman could not ride through. Two hundred yards from the young timber, toward town, we had
 made gap in the lane by letting the fence down to go through into the other field for
 water. Our officers, with few exceptions, were down in town loading wagons with salt to send South To the south of the lane, beyond the ravine, toward town, was camp ed the cavalry, who were performing picket duty.
 About p. m. on Oct. 25, 1862, the usual monotony of camp life broken by the sound of many horses feet running on the hard road. 'sThere'sa race," shouted the boys, and with seemingly accord we were on our feet in 8 moment. Six horse men came flying down the lane from the west. Bets were freely offered. The riders had no guns or hats. There was no jockey ing irr that race, but every fellow doing his level best to come out ahead. Two hundred yards behind and urging their horses to their utmost came thirty of Fremont's body guard. with drawn sabres, six abreast; down the lane they fled.
 Since the late unpieasautness have seen in our cities many gaudily-dressed military companies, but think the body guard could have outshone them all. They carried two of Colts dragoon revolvers in holsters attach ed to their saddles. Every piece of metal was plated, either gold or silver, and gold braid and cord were used in profusion upon their uniforms. To our ignorant eyes they seemed more like gods than human beings. Many of the boys shouted ''Lawl what pretty men," We had a regular stampede for the fence to get better view of them. We never thought of war or battle, but gave them a hearty cheer. We all talked at once and wondered who they could be. Many of the boys climbed to the top of the fence and waved their hats in their wild excitement. Every man was at or on the fencs when the main body ot the body guard and Major Whites battalion of Irish dragoons charged down the lane, wheeled in line to the fence and emptied their revolyers into us. I not to this day help smiling when I remem- Der the surprise and wonder expressed on the faces of many of our men when they were fired on Not one of us had ever been in a fight. We had no command given us. But every man grabbed his gun and poured shot and bullets into the lane. The yells and paths could be heard above the rattle of fire arms. Nothing between but the rail fence. The federals stayed until they had each emptied both revolvers; many drew their sabres, and with oaths cut at us over the fence. Then they ran to the ravins and reloeded It seemed but a moment until they were again firing on us from the same position, many not over four feet from us. Each would raise his revolver to cock it and fire when bringing it down on us, which was the cause of their almost invariably firing over us.
 Little Johnnie Wickersham had to this time never made use of profane word, but, like all the rest ot us, he now stood at the 1ouC0 dAO SfOT0 Ilk0 au Olu GFOOp6E. A&dlu they left us, this time running west. Ten minutes passed ,and we saw nothing of them. Lieut.. Joe Craig then ordered us uo form . line for the first time during the fight, paral- isl, but about fifty feet back from the fence, with positive orders for no one to fire until the command was given. Johnnie Wicker sham was on the extreme left of the line, where he could see down the lane toward the west. Immediately in his front was the gap in the lane before mentioned.
 Presently we heard him shout, "They are coming!" An officer was in advance, and we distinctly heard him give orders to charge the gap. He came with drawn sabre at full gallop directly for it. Against our protests and commands, emphasized by many oaths, Johnnie Wickersham ran for a gap. Not being able to hold his gun Fsoff hand" he knelt on one knee, placing his elbow on the other, and awaited their coming. Every man cursed and yelled for him to come back, but he did net move. The officer came with sword uplifted to strike, when little Johnnie fred The ball entered the officers breast, and he fell from his horse dead Ten feet behind came the main body with drawn pres. They were crowded into the gap when their leader fell. They checked their horses, for moment not knowing what to do As soon as Johnnie had fired the fatal shot he threw down his gun, hat in air, and yelled like madman.
 Craig finally ordered us to fire. Johnnie, immediately between us, was un- hurt, while five Federals fell deab in the gap, and many wounded. After fire they again to the ravine, let down the fence, formed under the hill, and came charging in soli.t line upon us. Johnnie had tied the officers horse and secured the sword and two fine silver-plated pistols. In his excitement he did not notice that the charge had swept by him and driven us all back into the young oak timber. They tried to enter af- ter us, but brush and bullets were too thick. We gave yell, and they scattered back over escape through the gap. Johnnie Wicker sham stood in it with sabre almost as long himself buckled around him, and revolver in each hand. When within twenty steps he opened fire on them, and for moment they refined their horses to halt We had then come from cover of the brush and were firing them from the rear. They halted for only moment and then charged on the boy, one of them knock ing him down with revolver. This was the last act in the fight. After this we saw nothing more of them. A detail was or dered to clear the lane of dead men and horses. Of the latter there were great many. That night with our wagons and camp equipage we started south for Price's army On our arrival Gen. Price gave Johnnie Wickersham commission as captain and ordered all the boys of the age or 15 in the amy to report to him On the re- turn of the army to Springfield his eighty odd boys were uniformed and armed and afterward did good service at Pea Ridge.
 The Rhode Island Locomotive works are finishing what is probably the largest and fastest locomotive of it's kind in the country. It is to be used on the Sh,re Line road, be- tween Providence and New London and is to make the distance, 62 miles, in 60 minutes, including four stops